COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Each week during the 2013-14 season a Maryland student-athlete, who has shown excellence on and off the playing field, will be selected as the Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week. This week's Solomon Eye Associates Terp of the Week is sophomore Ashley Spivey of the Maryland women’s soccer team.

Spivey scored the game-winning goal in the Terps’ first-ever win at Miami and then tallied the team’s lone goal in a hard-fought 2-1 loss at No. 3 Florida State.

By Patrick Fischer - Assoc. Media Relations Director

Change. Musicians have sung songs about it. Writers have written books, essays and poems about it. Politicians have promised it and even run campaigns based upon it. But no one said it is easy.

Just ask Ashley Spivey, a sophomore on the University of Maryland’s women’s soccer team.

The Sparrows Point, Md., native enjoyed one of the finest freshman campaigns in recent memory last season, scoring five goals and adding three assists to help the Terps reach the ACC tournament title game and their fourth-straight NCAA tournament as a wide midfielder.

She knew her role was going to change heading into the 2013 season, but she didn’t realize just how much.

“I was playing attacking center mid in the spring and I came into the fall thinking I was going to play there, but the team needed me to play up top,” said Spivey. “One of my strengths is my versatility, so I feel like I can adapt to wherever I’m needed.”

Due to a shortage of forwards heading into preseason training, Spivey’s primary position was changed from midfield to forward. It was a move that produced immediate results with Spivey scoring her first collegiate hat trick in the team’s 5-0 season opening win over the Citadel.

Spivey has been able to lean on her coaches and her teammates for help with the change to playing forward, especially head coach Jonathan Morgan and her running mate up top Hayley Brock.

“Jon has been very supportive and is very open with me,” said Spivey. “He’s always asking me to come in and watch video and is very patient with me in practice if I’m not getting things right away.

“It also helps playing with someone as seasoned as Hayley; she gives me a lot of feedback and is very helpful. If I have a question she’s always there for me and is easy to talk to about anything.”

But the change has also provided its share of challenges for Spivey. “I’m still figuring it out, but I’m getting more confident.”

Some of that confidence came in the Terps’ ACC opener at Clemson when Spivey scored the game-winning goal in the sixth minute of overtime, but much of her swagger can be found in not just in how she played last week in Florida, but also in the team’s performance in matches at Miami and at No. 3 Florida State.

Playing without Brock, who didn’t make the trip to the Sunshine State due to injury, Spivey embraced the challenge, scoring the game-winner in Maryland’s 1-0 win over the Hurricanes (the program’s first-ever win at Miami) on Oct. 17 and then scoring again in a 2-1 defeat vs. a well-rested Seminole team on Oct. 20.

“I think everyone was upset with Hayley not being there,” said Spivey. “She’s a big part of this team and a big part of our offense. She’s a terrific leader also and I’m proud of how we all came together and stayed positive.”

This season has been one of promise, frustration and, at times, celebration for Spivey and the Terps, but with three games remaining in the regular season she knows this year’s team still has a lot left to play for.

“The way we played in Florida, especially at Florida State, which is a top-three team in the country, and even at Virginia, which is the No. 1 team in the country, is encouraging,” said Spivey. “We’re just getting unlucky. This year compared to last year, we were the one’s getting the little breaks and scoring the goals in key spots and it’s kind of frustrating as a team, but it has just brought us closer together. We know we’re just so close to putting it all together and we’re looking forward to the last three games of the regular season.”